A uniform board for Class XII should be introduced across the country before changing the existing eligibility criteria for the IIT-Joint Entrance Examination, a senior official of IIT-Kanpur said today.
“The move would be successful only when a uniform board for Class XII is introduced in the country,” Registrar of IIT-K Sanjeev Kalsekar told PTI.
Under the proposal mooted by Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal yesterday, students will have to secure at least 80 per cent marks in their Class XII board examination to sit for the IIT-JEE instead of 60 per cent required currently for such aspirants.
A number of students pursuing various courses in the campus also opined that the step would be inappropriate without a uniform Class XII board. “In Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and other State boards, it is difficult to secure 80 per cent marks, while clearing the IIT entrance is comparatively easier,” Chandrashekhar, who is pursuing Ph.D in Chemical Engineering, said.
“If the Centre implements this proposal, parents would prefer imparting education to their children through CBSE or ICSE boards only. Therefore the Centre must introduce CBSE and ICSE boards in all educational institutes in India,” said Omendra, who completed B.Tech. from the campus.
“I know a lot of students who have cleared the IIT entrance in spite of securing just 60 per cent in the State boards, while a lot of others with over 80 per cent in CBSE and ICSE never cleared it,” he said.
Former president of IIT-Kanpur students’ Union Mohit Jali alleged that the Central government through this proposal aims at providing ample opportunities for students from CBSE and ICSE boards and make it impossible for those coming from other State boards.